A Wisconsin school has decided to respect students’ constitutional right to religious expression in class assignments, thanks to a lawsuit filed by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).
A Tomah High School student received a zero on a piece of artwork because it included a cross and a reference to John 3:16. School officials cited a grading policy that banned depictions of “blood, violence, sexual connotations (or) religious beliefs.” Students who portrayed demon-like creatures in their art, however, did not receive failing grades.
“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman said. “It was clearly unconstitutional for the school to enforce a policy in such a way as to bar religious expression by a Christian student while allowing other types of religious expression. No school policy can require a student to surrender his First Amendment rights.”
